Youth Tour Facts
What: An all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C., to tour national historic sites, experience cultural diversity, meet U.S. congressional representatives, and learn about electric cooperatives and the energy industry
Who: High school students and their peers from around the nation who have won contests at their local electric cooperatives
Why: Because then-Sen. Lyndon B. Johnson, an advocate of rural electrification, suggested in 1957 “sending youngsters to the national capital where they can actually see what the flag stands for and represents”
Where: Austin, Texas, and Washington, D.C.
When: 9 days in June
How: Students who win their electric co-op’s contest earn sponsorship valued at more than $4,500 for the trip, organized by Texas Electric Cooperatives and the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association
Local electric cooperatives have individual methods for selecting Youth Tour winners. Many hold annual competitions such as essay, speech or video contests. Each winner’s travel expenses—valued at more than $4,500—are covered by her or his co-op and other sponsors, and coordinators at Texas Electric Cooperatives and the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association handle all the arrangements.
If you’re a Texas high school student, discover how to apply for the next Youth Tour. Start by finding your cooperative here.
From museums and memorials to the majestic U.S. Capitol and Supreme Court, there’s a little bit of something for everyone in Washington, D.C. Join more than 150 other Texas teens on this 9-day summer adventure jampacked with splendid sights and memories in the making. Youth Tour is sure to be the trip of a lifetime.
Download a PDF of this poster suitable for printing on 11-by-17-inch paper.
Known as “America’s attic,” the Smithsonian Institution brings Youth Tour teens face-to-face with history and culture for a full day. Few realize its breadth.
Download a PDF of this poster suitable for printing on 8 1/2-by-11-inch paper.
Want more reasons why you should apply to Youth Tour? We asked three participants to answer these questions.
Download a PDF of this poster suitable for printing on 8 1/2-by-11-inch paper.
A whirl on Youth Tour leads to win after win for Texas high school students
Object
To win an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C., sponsored by your electric cooperative, make friends and create memories that will last a lifetime
Instructions
Follow the steps, side roads and signs on an epic adventure that’s a springboard for life.
Download a PDF of the game board suitable for printing on 11-by-17-inch paper.
Sample Itinerary
The action-packed Youth Tour includes stops at major historic and government sites on an itinerary that is beyond the reach of the average tourist.
Download a PDF of the sample itinerary.
June 1, 2022
In 1965, Texas’ electric cooperatives joined forces to send 58 deserving teens to Washington, D.C. There they joined their peers from across Co-op Country to explore the capital, meet with their congressional representatives and broaden their view of the world.
More than half a century later, electric cooperatives carry on the legacy of that first Government-in-Action Youth Tour and continue to empower young people through the life-changing trip to Washington. After a two-year hiatus, Youth Tour is back, and more than 100 young Texans will once again make the journey to our nation’s capital to represent their hometown cooperatives and answer then-Sen. Lyndon B. Johnson’s call in 1957 to “see what the flag stands for and represents.”
If you are among those fortunate enough to have attended Youth Tour in past years, then you are well aware of the trip’s transformative power. If you are considering applying, I encourage you to do so—it will change your life.
Best Regards,
Mike Williams
President/CEO
Texas Electric Cooperatives
Electric cooperatives sponsor students from their communities to go on the Government-in-Action Youth Tour, and additional sponsorship comes from the following organizations.
Altec Industries
Alterman Inc.
Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative
Bolinger, Segars, Gilbert & Moss
CoBank
CoServ
EnerVision Inc
Farmers Electric Cooperative
Grayson-Collin Electric Cooperative
Hi-Line Engineering
HILCO Electric Cooperative
Jackson Electric Cooperative
Juniper Networks
Kayla Sanders
Lamar Technical Services
McCord Engineering
MDF HR Consulting
National Information Solutions Cooperative (NISC)
National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation (CFC)
Pedernales Electric Cooperative
Pike Electric
Pole Inspection of West Texas
Scarbrough, Medlin & Associates
TEC Government Relations
TEC Manufacturing & Distribution Services
Techline
Texas Co-op Power
Texas Rural Electric Women’s Association
Texas State Utilities
The Nitsche Group
TransWorld
Utility Restoration Services
Utility Sales of North Texas
Wise Electric Cooperative